In a first for the Royal Oak Rotary Club, twins took home scholarships from the club’s annual scholarship luncheon, held this year on June 4 at the Boys & Girls Club of South Oakland County.

Twin sisters Susan and Sarah Rusinowski are graduates of Royal Oak High School. Susan won the Austin Miller Scholarship, while Sarah won the Mary Ann Shantz Scholarship.

Miller, who had been a Royal Oak Rotary member for 49 years when he passed away 10 years ago, was a civil engineer who liked to hike, ski and snowboard.

“Austin was an early tree-hugger,” said Rotarian Bill Gray, who presented the award, which honors Miller. “When we looked for a student that Austin would have liked, Susan fit the bill perfectly.”

Advertisement

In presenting the award to Sarah in memory of his wife, Mary Ann, who passed away last October, Rotarian Jack Shantz noted that his wife was also a twin, and that this was the first time twins had applied.

The twins share many of the same interests and took a lot of the same classes, although Susan leans more toward math and science, while Sarah likes history and English.

Susan excels in music, playing in the wind ensemble, flute choir and pit orchestra for school musicals. Sarah is editor-in-chief of Acorn, the school news magazine.

“Having different interests helps us out academically and to be more well rounded,” Susan said. “She’ll read my papers and edit them, and I’ll help her study for math and chemistry tests.”

They both participated in the Model United Nations program.

“Model UN got us interested in the international side of what we want to study,” Susan said. She plans to study environmental engineering and working with water and sanitation issues in developing nations at the University of Michigan, while continuing with her Spanish studies.

Sarah, who will study political science and international relations at U-M, is hoping to work as a reporter or on the copy desk of the Michigan Daily, the university’s student newspaper.

Both are hoping to join the Peace Corps after college and before graduate school.

Susan was founder, president and treasurer of the Royal Oak High Spanish Club. “Sarah wanted to join for the good Spanish food, but you have to speak more than ‘hola’ to get in the club,” Susan said.

“I can say ‘tengo hambre – I’m hungry,’ ” her sister retorted.

Both girls played tennis, with Sarah captaining the Royal Oak High tennis team her senior year. They are members of the National Honor Society.

They both love to read, and Sarah’s summer goal is to read one book a week for pleasure without feeling guilty. Their mom, Pam, spent a lot of time at the library with the twins and their younger sister, Rachael. “We would check out stacks of books from the time they were 1 year old.”

“It’s always a pleasure to attend events which honor young people, said 44th District Court Judge Derek Meinecke. “I think it’s a great example of the mission of the Rotary Club.”

Jesse Friedman, a Royal Oak High School graduate who is Boys & Girls Club of South Oakland County 2013 Youth of the Year and Boys & Girls Club of America’s Michigan Youth of the Year, was awarded the Winifred Cook Scholarship. Cook was actually a volunteer cook at St. John’s Episcopal Church, where Royal Oak Rotary met for many years. She gave the club its first endowed scholarship. Jesse plans to attend the University of Michigan.

Royal Oak Rotary gave five additional academic scholarships. Royal Oak High grad Theodore Tekip, who played in the city’s sandlot league all his life, plans to study packaging science at Michigan State University. Christine Poduska, also a ROHS graduate, will attend Oakland Community College to study nursing. Christine studied in France as a Rotary exchange student. Kelly Derin, a member of ROHS’ Interact Club, will take environmental studies at MSU.

Shrine High School graduate Erin Kapala will study chemical engineering at Notre Dame University, and Bishop Foley High School grad Amanda Saad will study accounting at MSU.

Royal Oak Rotary President Barbara Wheeler noted that Rotary’s annual YES auction supports the $1,500 scholarships. The auction’s name stands for Youth, Education and Service.

Wheeler told the graduates, “Service above self is Rotary’s motto. You have already taken that message to heart.”

“We are very grateful to Rotary and all the community groups who support our students in so many ways, not just with scholarships, but throughout their K-12 experience,” said Royal Oak Schools Superintendent Shawn Lewis-Lakin.

Tribute luncheon for Jean Chamberlain

Jean Chamberlain, former executive director of the Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce and former chair of the Woodward Dream Cruise, will be recognized for her 50 years of service to the community at the Royal Oak Republican Women’s Club’s spring luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 19, at the Oxford Inn, 1214 S. Main St. in Royal Oak.

The nonpartisan event is open to all. Cost of the luncheon is $20. RSVP to 248-549-9423 or 248-435-6071 by Monday.

‘Sound of Music’ at the Baldwin

Stagecrafters has brought the beloved musical “The Sound of Music” back for the third time since 1981.

The show, directed by Randy Wrisinger of Huntington Woods, runs through Sunday, June 23, at the Baldwin Theatre, 415 S. Lafayette St. in downtown Royal Oak.

The Baldwin’s Wurlitzer pipe organ is featured, along with incredible sets, period costumes and double the usual number of choral voices in the nun’s chorus.

Come to a special singalong performance at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 15, when audience members will be given song sheets to accompany the cast and costumes are encouraged.

Advance tickets are $18 for Thursdays and $20 for weekend evenings and Sunday matinees. Purchase online at stagecrafters.org, or by phone at 248-541-6430.

Tri-Community Coalition Golf Classic

The Tri-Community Coalition of Berkley, Huntington Woods and Oak Park, which provides scholarships and programs to keep young people drug and alcohol free, is hosting the 15th annual “Swinging for Scholarships and More” golf classic at Rackham Golf Course, 10100 W. 10 Mile Road in Huntington Woods, on Monday, June 17.

Registration begins at 8 a.m. with a shotgun start to the 4-person scramble at 9 a.m. Donations are $125 for individuals and $450 for foursomes, and include hot dogs at the turn and a dinner and awards banquet. Go online to tricommunitycoalition.org to register.

The golf outing will include an auction of art and sports memorabilia. Go online to biddingowl.com/tdcc for early bidding on some auction items.

Larry Auger Memorial Golf Outing

The Clawson Chamber of Commerce is planning the annual Larry Auger Memorial Golf Outing for Tuesday, June 25, at Twin Lakes Golf & Swim Club in Oakland.

Registration starts at 8 a.m. with the shotgun sounding for the 4-person scramble at 10 a.m. The fee of $125 includes golf, continental breakfast, lunch at the turn and an awards dinner. Attend dinner only for $47.

Auger was the owner of Auger’s Auto Body Collision on Rochester Road in Clawson until his untimely death in 2003. He was a past president of the Clawson Chamber and an avid golfer.

Have news about your club, organization or interesting individuals in Southeast Oakland County you would like to share with the community? Email Jeanne Towar at jeanne.towar@gmail.com or call 248-890-8370.